Meet the Artists: Chelsea Haberlin & ITSAZOO Productions

ITSAZOO Productions is bursting out of the cage and bringing you Vancouver's hottest new talent and most exciting new work in the most unusual spaces. Daring, adventurous and fun. Just like the real zoo. But with more freedom, less imprisoned animals and more danger! Since 2004 ITSAZOO has produced 11 full-length shows, 5 new one acts, toured 4 productions across beautiful British Columbia, and is now turning Bridge Mix into an annual event.

How did you get started in  theatre?

I got started in theatre when I was very young directing plays in my basement. My first major production was Beauty and the Beast starring my neighbours and attended by our parents.  It was a 4 star production. In high school I got seriously in to drama when I took my first directing and playwriting class.  This introduced me to theatre direction and I found my passion.  After highschool I studied theatre at UVic where I met the rest of the ZooCrew.  We started making theatre in the summers and haven't stopped since!

What is your history with the Fringe?

Our first fringe show was in the Vancouver Fringe in 2006. We produced a show called Death of a Clown by Sebastien Archibald that we have developed and produced many times since then.  Last year we had a BYOV show called Bildungsroman that we co produced with Slam Ink that was performed at Carousel Theatre.  

How did you get involved with the Onsite program?

We got involved with the Onsite program because David Jordan sent me an email saying that he thought this might be the kind of thing ITSAZOO would be in to. and he was right!  We have been doing site-specific work since 2004 in our own way but were very curious to develop a show with the support and mentorship of the Only Animal.  They create such amazing work and this was a fantastic opportunity to get to see behind the scenes of their process. 

What did you love most about it so far?

So far the thing I have loved the most is a sheet of questions that Kendra gave us to be used when first looking at a site. The questions help you to understand the site better and to learn about the stories the site tells.  Generally we start with a story and fit it in to an environment but this has been great insight in to starting with the location and pulling out the story from there.

What kind of theatre inspires you?

Anything that takes theatre and turns it on its head. Theatre outside traditional playhouses that challenges an audience physically, mentally and emotionally. Plays that ask big important questions and don't shy away from politics.  Anything I see on stage and had never heard of, thought of or imagined really gets me going.  If I'm uncomfortable and stimulated as an audience member I am inspired as a theatre artist.

Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work as a theatre artist thus far?

We have had tongs of influences.  Sebastien, our playwright in residence, is in to Sam Shepard, Brecht, Pinter and many other absurdist and political playwrights. As a director a great deal of my work is influenced by my background in applied theatre so the work of Augusto Boal and David Diamond is of great interest to me. Also, in terms of straight up awesome directors, I am a huge fan of Peter Brook and Charles Marowitz.  As a company, our first great inspiration was Theatre SKAM in Victoria and in recent years we have really loved the work of Electric company

What else are you working on right now?

So many things!!!  I'm going in the UBC Theatre MFA directors program in the fall and am going to take a wee ITSAZOO break during that time so we're cramming for finals as a company. Next week Bridge Mix is opening (June 8-25). It is a site-specific promenade show that we co-produce with Enlightenment Theatre.  Bridge Mix is in its second year and features 9 10-minute plays by 9 emerging theatre companies. Plus there's a roving bar and Saturday night dance parties.  Awesome!  ITSAZOOs contribution features a rooftop multimedia death scene.  After that we are remounting Chairs: A Parable, a new play by Sebastien Archibald, as a part of of the Neanderthal Arts Festival in July at the Cultch.  This October we are presenting a new play by Mackenzie Gordon called Debts.  Debts is a site-specific promenade production taking place at the Roedde House Heritage Museum in the West End. It is a play inspired by Edgar Allen Poe, Haunted Houses and radio plays.  It's going to be a creepy good time.  For more information on all of our projects you can visit www.itsazoo.org